Children Make Their Contribution to Honour Famous Airman

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 75, 30 March 1936, Page 11

Children Make Their Contribution to Honour Famous Airman

FINE EFFORT BY MISS ELDRED’S PUPILS The Empire Hall was filled to capacity on Saturday afternoon when the pupils of Miss Fern 'Eldred presented a delightful fairy play as well as a pleasing variety of humorous and character sketches, songs and dances. This was the children’s gesture as a tribute to the late Squadron-Leader M. 0. McGregor, and as a result of their very fine entertainment tho McGregor fund 'should benefit considerably. In addition to much voluntary help, Miss Eldred also had tho generous assistance of Mr AV. Devine, who gave the use of the hall free.

At a suitable juncturo during tho afternoon the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mans-; ford) voiced his appreciation of the excellent way in which Miss Eldred and her pupils were assisting tho fund. In culogisiug tho work of tho late Squadron-Leader McGregor, Mr Mansford spoke of the splendid manner iu which be had assisted aviation in tho Dominion, and in referring to the memorial fund expressed tho hope that a largo sum would bo raised throughout the Dominion as a worthy tribute to his memory. In concluding, the Mayor moved a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Eldred and helpers who had I contributed towards such a successful 1 afternoon, and remarked on the excellent attendance. The vote of thanks [ was carried with enthusiasm.

Tho programme opened, with a draw-ing-room entertainment, in which several tiny tots .made their debut, ami this was as follows: —Hostess, Beryl Crystall; housemaid, Noeliue , Ansin; ‘‘When Dad is Sick,” Adrienne Allen; "Grandpa’s Spectacles,” Laurel Graham; "The Blue Eyes,” Juno Henderson; "Drawing-room Chairs,” Margaret Tremaine; “A Guilty Conscience,’ Loye Vile (Makomako); vocal duet, Maori song, Gloria and Bruce Davidson; ‘'A Chinese Tragedy," by the Housemaid; "The Wave,” Ngara Houlbrooke (Woodville); "Her Name,” Natalie Ormou; "Jim,’’ Shirley Graham; “Running Away,” Helen GWynne; "Girl and Butterfly” (vocal duet), Joyce and Ruth McNcillv; “Schoolgirl’s Speech,” Margery Goodwin; "The Boyless Town,” Russell Jackson (Bunnythorpc). The second part of tho programme consisted of humorous and character sketches by tho more advanced pupils as follow: —"Little Brown Hands” (concerted item), tho pupils; dance, "Little Dutchic,’’ Shirley Henderson (pupil of Miss Juno Scott); recitations, "Miss Flossie Fuffytop, ’’ Noelino Ansin (Aorangi); "Grandma’s Tiki,” Joyce McNeilly; "Tiresome Questions,” Julia Kendrick (Aorangi); “Cakes,” Patricia Coleman (Fcilding); '! nori Land,’ Tore Christian; usiiments,” Margaret Fraser; "Thy Crest of tho Hill,” Josephine Christian; "Pixie Postmen,” Eileen Tucker; ‘‘No, Thank You, Tom,” Isla Carian; violin solo, Viola McNeilly; in character, ‘‘Little Mushrom Girl,” Juno Henderson; "Lady Apple Blossom,” Ruth MeNeillv; ‘‘Little Violet Seller,” Adrienne Allen; Irish jig, Shirley Henderson.

A fairy play, a scene from ‘‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,” concluded the afternoon’s entertainment, and this reflected much credit on tho producer, Miss Eldred. .By the kind courtesy of Miss Gwen Gibbs, Pauline Mathews, a graceful little dancer, was tho solo dancer in tho fairy scene. The various characters in the play wero as follow:—Fairy Cobweb, Joyce AleNeilly; Puck, Beryl Crystall; Titauia, Patricia Coleman (Fcilding); Jack O’Lantern, Shirley Graham; Fairy dancer, Pauline Matthews.

Miss Freda Whittaker, pupil of Miss Helen Gardn’r, Wellington, gave two delightful elocutionary numbers, the first, “The Grief of Constance” (Shakespeare), and in response to an enthusiastic encore she gave a Wish Wynne Cockney number.